The Gentoo Group has launched its annual Ready, Set, Grow gardening competition in Sunderland to mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary. The competition, now in its ninth year, invites tenants, schools, and community groups to showcase their gardening efforts, with entries closing on 30 June 2026.
This year, the initiative features five distinct categories: Best Customer Garden, Best Small Space/Planters/Pots, Best School Garden/Outdoor Learning Space, the Community Bloom Award, and a new 25 Years Forward: Future Grow Award. The final category is specifically dedicated to sustainable projects that focus on food growing and wildlife biodiversity. Rather than focusing on the size of a plot, the competition judges entries based on community impact and the effort put into the space.
Participants are required to submit photos along with a short story about their garden to be considered for prizes, which include certificates, trophies, garden centre vouchers, raised beds, planters, and growing kits. Judging will take place throughout July 2026, and winners will be announced shortly after.
The Gentoo Group, which currently manages approximately 28,000 homes in Sunderland and serves more than 60,000 residents, was established in 2001 following the transfer of council homes to the housing association. While the organisation promotes these community initiatives, it has also addressed concerns regarding property standards. Following resident reports of damp and mould in some properties, Chief Executive Officer Louise Bassett stated that the organisation is committed to listening to feedback and improving service standards for its tenants.
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